inevitable

inevitable — adjective

1. Something that is inevitable is sure to take place, and no action can stop it fr

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Something that is inevitable is sure to take place, and no action can stop it from happening.

Example

After the diagnosis, surgery seemed inevitable for the elderly woman.

seems inevitable / appeared inevitable

The bus driver knew that a crash was inevitable in the heavy fog.

Common collocations
  • seems inevitable
  • appears inevitable
  • inevitable consequence
  • inevitable result
  • inevitable outcome
  • accept the inevitable
  • face the inevitable
Synonyms
  • unavoidable

    the closest synonym; slightly more neutral and less formal than 'inevitable'

  • inescapable

    emphasises that something cannot be escaped from; often used for negative situations

  • certain

    broader meaning; does not carry the same sense of being unstoppable

Antonyms
  • preventable

    something that can be stopped from happening

  • avoidable

    something you can choose to stay away from

Grammar Patterns

be + inevitable

it + be + inevitable + that-clause

inevitable + noun

Usage Note

Frequently used in the pattern 'it is inevitable that + clause'. Can also be used with the definite article as a noun phrase ('the inevitable') to refer to an unavoidable event or outcome.

Common Mistakes

The rain was inevitable today because the sky was grey.
Rain was very likely today because the sky was grey.
'Inevitable' means something absolutely certain that cannot be prevented, not merely probable.
I made an inevitable mistake on the test.
I made a mistake that I could have avoided on the test.
Use 'inevitable' only for outcomes that truly cannot be prevented, not for common errors.

2. Describes something that happens so regularly that you always know it will happe

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Describes something that happens so regularly that you always know it will happen again, often as part of a routine or pattern.

Example

Traffic jams were as inevitable as the morning sun in the city centre.

as + inevitable + as + noun

At every village meeting, an argument about the new road was almost inevitable.

almost inevitable

Common collocations
  • almost inevitable
  • as inevitable as
  • socially inevitable
  • culturally inevitable
  • inevitable ritual
  • inevitable tradition
Synonyms
  • predictable

    focuses on being able to foresee something; less absolute than 'inevitable'

  • expected

    softer; simply means something happens as anticipated

  • routine

    describes something that is part of a normal, repeated pattern

Antonyms
  • unexpected

    something that surprises you because it does not happen regularly

  • unpredictable

    something that changes in ways you cannot foresee

Grammar Patterns

as + inevitable + as + noun

almost inevitable

inevitable + noun

Usage Note

Often used in comparisons with 'as … as' (e.g., 'as inevitable as the sunrise'). Different from sense 1 in that it describes routine predictability rather than an outcome that cannot be prevented. The focus is on frequency and expectation, not unavoidability.

Common Mistakes

The train delay is inevitable every Monday.
The train delay happens almost every Monday.
'Inevitable' is too strong for something that occurs often but could theoretically change; use 'predictable' or 'expected' instead.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that is sure to happen, but they differ in nuance. 'Unavoidable' is the closest synonym and is the most neutral — it simply means no course of action can bypass the outcome ('The storm was unavoidable'). 'Inescapable' adds a sense of confinement or pursuit, suggesting that the event follows you wherever you go ('The guilt was inescapable'). 'Certain' is broader and less dramatic — it can describe anything known to be true without implying that prevention is impossible ('She is certain to win the race'). 'Destined' suggests fate or a predetermined plan, giving the event a sense of purpose or a longer arc ('They were destined to meet'). For everyday use, 'inevitable' and 'unavoidable' are mostly interchangeable, but 'inevitable' often carries a slightly heavier, more serious tone — you might say 'death is inevitable' but 'a delay is unavoidable'.

unavoidable ↗inescapablecertain ↗destined

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • it is inevitable that
  • the inevitable
  • bow to the inevitable
  • face the inevitable
  • as inevitable as

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'inevitable' comes from Latin 'inevitabilis', formed from 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'evitabilis' meaning 'avoidable'. 'Evitabilis' itself comes from 'evitare' (to avoid), which combines 'ex-' (out) and 'vitare' (to shun). The word entered English in the 1300s through French, originally with the same meaning of 'not able to be shunned or avoided.'